 |
1. What is the mission of the Jackson Hole Community School?
The Jackson Hole Community School is a small independent, ninth to twelfth grade school that prepares students of diverse backgrounds for college and life beyond. We offer challenging academics, excellence in teaching, an array of extracurricular activities, and a supportive culture. Our students are invested in their learning, value personal initiative, and make thoughtful contributions to their community.
|
|
2. Where is the school located? Describe the facilities.
JHCS occupies the southwest corner of the Flat Creek Business Center, located at 1715 High School Road. This location is across from Jackson Hole High School (JHHS) and is adjacent to the public playing fields that are east of Colter Elementary School. The facility currently includes teaching classrooms, a science lab, a common area, a library, and wireless capabilities throughout the building.
|
|
3. How many students attend JHCS? What grades are offered?
JHCS has 43 students in grades 9-12. The school will grow to a maximum of 125 students.
|
|
4. Describe the JHCS curriculum.
JHCS offers a rigorous academic curriculum and provides support to students to ensure their success. Students take courses in the core subject areas: English, Social Studies, Math, Science, Foreign Language, and the Arts. As an independent school, JHCS is able to utilize talented community members and thereby offer a rich menu of electives, such as creative writing, photography, psychology, and computer science (See the JHCS Curriculum Guide). In addition to the core academics, all students participate in community service learning, and senior students undertake a project in an area of interest during their last semester at JHCS. Attention to and support for individual students is achieved through small class sizes, along with the faculty / student advisory, tutoring, and college counseling programs.
|
|
5. How is JHCS unique?
o Small class sizes (the average class size at JHCS is 9 students)
o Individualized attention
o Faculty advisory groups
o School-wide "town hall" meetings
o wireless internet capability throughout the school
o Self-government association that includes all students
o Student / Faculty Judiciary Committee
o Environmental care program
o Yearly 3-5 day outdoor educational trips
|
|
6. What extra-curricular activities are offered?
Each student must participate in one (1) extracurricular activity and one (1) sport or the equivalent per school year. JHCS offers one or more athletic equivalents per season ranging from cycling to Nordic skiing. Students can also meet the requirement through participation in athletics at JHHS. Individualized athletic programs, such as dance, figure skating, or skiing, may fulfill part of the entire yearly requirement. JHCS also offers a variety of clubs and activities that are faculty or student-initiated.
|
|
7. What type of schedule is used?
Students at JHCS take six academic classes for the entire year. JHCS uses two different daily schedules throughout the week. Three days each week, the day is split into six 50 minute periods with a 45 minute lunch and a 45 minute “leftover” block of flex time which is used for Town Hall meetings and study hall. On the remaining two days, students have three academic classes on each day which meet for 75 minutes. In addition, on these two days all students have a Strategies class in which students learn a variety of academic skills such as test taking strategies, organization, and time management. The afternoons on these two days are reserved for clubs, cleaning, study hall, and advisory.
|
|
8. How is the school accredited?
JHCS is in the process of receiving accreditation from the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS). For the 2006-2007 school year, JHCS had "Subscriber" status with PNAIS. The process to become an Accredited Member of PNAIS takes 5 – 7 years.
|
|
9. How will the new school status affect college admissions?
JHCS offers a challenging, comprehensive curriculum and as a result its students will be well prepared for college. The Director of College Counseling and JHCS faculty are pro-active with college admissions offices on behalf of their students. We also utilize the PNAIS resources to articulate the school’s curriculum and program to college admissions offices. In preparation for the college admission process, JHCS offers preparatory workshops for the PSAT and SAT exams.
|
|
10. What is the tuition? Are scholarships and financial aid available?
The tuition for JHCS is $12,500. Building a diverse student body is central to the JHCS mission and philosophy. Scholarships and financial aid are available, based on need. For the 2006-2007 school year, approximately 50 percent of the students received financial gifts worth $85,000. For the 2006-2007 school year, approximately 52% of families received financial gifts worth approximately $200,000.
|
|
